Window regulator



' Feb. 8,1927. I 6 ,195

.J. H. BOURGON WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Julie 2a, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1mvEiqToR JOSEPH BOQ/IFGO/Y ATTORNEYa Feb; 8,- 1927. 1

. 1,617,195 J. H; BOURGON wmnow REGULATOR f Filed Jun 28, 1923 2Shets-Sh eet 2 INVENTOR 1/055 f7. 500560 I Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

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JOSEPI-I H. BOURGON, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE STUDEBAKERCOR- i PORATION, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF'NEW JERSEY.

WINDOW REGULATOR.

Application filed June 28, 1923. Serial No. 648,364.

" p This invention relates to a mechanism for raising and loweringwindows, such mechanism being commonly known as window regulators, and,the object of my invention is the provision of a mechanism of thecharacter described which is simple and inexpensive in its construction,is positive in operation, is easily operated to raise or lower theassociated window, and is particularly adapted for use in connectionwith the type of windows commonlyrused in closed automobiles and othervehicles, which windows have lowering movements when being opened.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, andwhile, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerousforms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which,-

' Fig. 1 is an outer side elevation of the lower portion ofan'automobile door with part of the sheathing broken away to show theinvention associated therewith and also showing the window in loweredposition.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged. fragmentary vertical sectional view of the doorshown in Fig. 1 with the window in raised position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing theconstruction at the lower end of the worm shaft.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectronal View of the mechanism at theupper end of the worm shaft including the operating handle, gears forturning the worm shaft,

, and co-operating-mechanism.

-Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view show ing the lower edge of thewindow in raised position, the window opening and associated parts.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of-Fig. 1 and shows the meansfor holding the worm and worm wheel sector in alignment,

Referring to the drawings, 1 is an automobile door having a windowopening 2 therein, and 3 designates a glass orwindowpart which isadapted to be raised in position to close the opening 2 or to be loweredinto the lower portion of the door, which is made hollow for suchpurpose, as is customary in doors used in closed vehicles, as forinstance, in automobiles. r

The window or member 8 is adapted to rest freely at its lower edge on aroller 4:, which is carried at the freeend of a vertically swinging arm5. The arm 5 is fastened adjacent to its lower end to a segment 6 of aworm wheel, the segment 6 and the arm 5 being pivoted at 7, to a metalboard 8 which extends substantially across the full width of the door 1and forms a part thereof for strengthening the same and entirelysupporting the window regulator mechanism.

worm 9 formed on a vertical shaft 10 meshes with the segment 6. Thelower end of the shaft 10 may be journaled in a bracket 11 which issecured by thev screws 12 to the lower flanged edge of the metal board8. A ball thrust bearing 13 is also provided as a seat for the shaft 6to take the downward thrust thereof, and a screw plug 14 threadedv inthe bracket 11 is to adjust the axial position of. the shaft 10. Theupper end of the shaft 10 ward thrust of the shaft 10. The member 15 mayhave a flange 18 which is adapted to bear against the inner surfaceofthe metal board -8. The end of the member 15 adjacent the flange 18projects through the board 8 and is recessed and threaded within therecess for a purpose hereinafter described. A. nut or clamping member 19whose outwardly projectingiflange 20 serves as an escutcheon plate forholding the upholstering material 21-against the board 8, has aprojecting threaded portion adapted to be threaded into the: threadedend of the member 15 and thereby clamp the metal board 8 and theupholstering material 21 between the flanges 18 and 20 and also firmlysecure the member 15 in. place on the metal board 8. The nut or clampingmember 19 has a central opening therethrough which serves as a journaland support for the horizontal shaft 16 which projects through the sameand to which the handle 22 is suitably secured. A bevel gear 23,preferably of thespiral tooth type, is secured to the end of thehorizontal shaft 16 opposite the handle 22 to turn therewith and alsobear against the end of the member 15.

A flange 24 on the horizontal shaft16 seats against the bottom ofthe'recess in the end of the member 15 and this in conjunction with thegear 23 prevents longitudinal movement of the horizontal shaft16. Abevel gear 25 secured tothe shaft 10 adjacent its upper end meshes withthe gear 23 and is caused to turn therewith to operate the 22 is turned,causing the worm. 9 to turn therewith, the worm wheel sector 6 is causedto rotate about its pivot 7 in a direction dependant upon' the directionof rotation of the handle 22. Inasmuch as the arm 5 is secured to theworm wheel sector 6, rotation of the handle causes the free end of thearm 5 to be raised or lowered, and the associated window, 3 resting onthe roller 4 is caused to move up or down in a corresponding manner. Acoil spring 26 attached 'at one end to the upper flanged edge of themetal board 8 and at the other end to the 511111'5 servestocounter-balancethe weight of the window 3 resting on the roller 4 atthe outer end of the arm 5', so that any strain due to the total weightof the window will be reduced and.

the' mechanism will work freely and without friction.

, The glass of the window 3 is provided with a channel shaped metalbinding strip 27 at its lower edge which rests on the roller ii: of

the arm 5. The upper outside edge of this strip 27 being flanged overand outwardly as at 28. The sheathing of the door 1 pro jects over thelower edge of the window opening2 to a point adjacent the window 3 as.at 29 and is then turned back on itself fora short distance and aflexible rubber strip 30 is placed beneath the same. When the window 3is raised the rubber strip 30 is compressed between the flange 28 andthe door sheathing at 29, to prevent water from passing from the outsideof the window to the recess or pocket formed for the winoow and thusprevent damage to the window regulating mechanism.

A downwardly projecting member 31 having aninwardly turned flange at itslower edge is fastened to the binding strip 27, the inwardly turnedflange passing below the roller 4: on the arm 5 so that in the event thewindow 3 becomes stuck or does not freely follow the roller 4: when thesame is lowered, the roller t will bear against the inwardly turnedflange of the member 31 andpull the window 3 with it to its loweredposition.

The segment of the worm wheel '6 as shown in the drawings is preferablymade of sheet metal to reduce weight and cost and in the event that thewindow 3 works rather hard in its guideways the segment 6 might bend outof the engagement with the worm 9 when an excessive strain is put on themechanism to move the window 3 if means was not provided (see Fig. forkeeping the sector 6 and worm '9 at all times in proper alignment. Thismeans comprises a block 32 secured to the metal board 8 in 'which issupp rted a ball-bearing 33 which bears against the side of the sector 6adjacent its and over the outer edge of the sector 6 and c "ries aball-bearing which seats freely between the member 3st and the sector 6at Joint oii'the oppositeside of the sector 6 from the ball-bearing 33but in a position corresponding therewith. The sector 6 is thus guidedbetween the ball-bearings 33 and 35 which prevents it from bendingsidewise out of engagement with the worm 9. The arm 5 which is securedat its one end to the sector 6 to pivot therewith at 7, has its free endoffset from the sector 6 so thatv upon rotation the arm will free theball bearings 33 and 35 and the guide member is raised to closed 34:when the window 0 position.

It has heretofore been common practice in building window regulators toprovide means for loclzing the operating handle against rotation whennot being operated, to prevent the window from slipping downinadvertntly. in important result olitainedby the do away with suchlocking mechanism as it' is an inherent characteristic of a worm and'wheel that the wheel is self locking when construction shown is that itis possible to.

locking device may be used for preventing,

the window from working down.

It is understood that formal changes may be made in the specificembodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit orsubstance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensuratewith the appended claims.

What I claim is V 1. The combination with a closure and its frame, of asupporting member extending across said frame, a lever pivoted at oneend to said supporting member and supporting said closure at its freeend, a segmental worm wheel secured to said lever and movable therewith,a vertical shaft sup ported by thrust hearings on said supportingmember, a worm on said shaft meshing with iid wornwheel, means toprevent displacement of said worm wheel in respect to said worm, meanstorotate said shaft'and thereby raise "and lower said closure,-andresilient means for counterbalancing the weight of said closure.

2. The combination with a closure member and its frame, of a leverpivoted at one end thereof to said frame and supporting said closuremember at the free end thereof; a

axial position of said worm; a gear on said shaft; a gear on a secondshaft meshing with said first mentioned gear and a handle on said secondshaftto rotate said shaft and said gears.

3. The combination with a closure and its frame, of mechanism forraising and lowering said closure comprising a lever, a worm wheelsector, a worm, and means for rotating the same; and means forpreventing displacement of said worm wheel in respect to said worm, saidmeans comprising rotatable guides positioned adjacent the toothed faceof said worm wheel sector.

4c. The combination of a closure and a frame, of a metal board extendingacross the width of said frame adapted to support mechanism for raisingand lowering said closure, said mechanism comprising a lever pivoted atone end to said metal board and carrying said closure at the free endthereof; a worm wheel sector secured to said lever; a. shaft havingaworm thereon meshing with said worm wheel sector and supported by saidmetal board; means for taking the thrust and for adjusting the axialposition of said shaft; means for causing rotation of said shaft; andmeans for holding said worm wheel sector in proper relationship withsaid worm.

5. In a device of the class described, a hollow frame, a window slidablymounted in said hollow frame, a lever pivoted at one end and supportingsaid window at its free end, a worm wheel sector secured to said lever,a worm operating in conjunction with said worm wheel, the threadangle ofsaid worm being smaller than the angle of friction between said worm andworm wheel sector,

means for causing rotation of said worm;

and rotatable means to guide said worm wheel sector. I

6. In a device of the class described, a hollow frame, a window.slidably mounted in said hollow frame, a board extending across thewidth of said frame and forming a part thereof, a lever pivotallymounted at one end to said board and supporting said window at its freeend, a segment of a worm wheel secured to said lever, a worm supportedby said board meshing with said segment of the worm Wheel, the threadangle of said worm being such that said worm wheel is irreversible orself locking and mechanism supported by said board for causing rotationof said worm.

7 In a closure operating mechanism, the combination with a slidablymounted closure member, of means for moving said 010- sure membercomprising a lever pivoted at one end and supporting said closure memherat the other end thereof; a worm wheel sector secured to said leveradjacent its pivoted end; .a worm meshing with said worm wheel sector;rotatable means for holding said worm wheel sector in alignment withsaid worm; and means for rotating said worm to thereby raise and lowersaid closure member.

Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A., this22nd day of June, 1923.

JOSEPH I-I. BOURGON.

